Automatic vending-machine.



R. B. CRAIG & A. COFFMAN. AUTOMATIC VENDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. a0, 1908.

987,701 Pa en ed Manzs, 1911.

11 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

nventota R. B. CRAIG & A. OOFPMAN. AUTOMATIC VENDING MACHINE APPLICATION FILED NOV. 30, 1908.

987,701. P en ed Mar.28, 1911.

R. B. CRAIG & A. GOFPMAN.

AUTOMATIC VENDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. so, 1908.

987,701. Patented Mar. 28, 1911.

11 SHEETS-SHEET a.

q'vitnemao Si Q/ M R. B. CRAIG & A. GOPPMAN.

AUTOMATIC VENDING MACHINE.

APBLIGATIONVIILED NOV. 30, 1908.

Patented Mar. 28, 1911.

11 BHEETSSHEBT 4.

mntou:

R. B. CRAIG & A. GOFPMAN. AUTOMATIC VENDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 30, 190B.

Patented Mar. 28, 1911.

11 SHEETS-SHEET 5 R. B. CRAIG & A. OOPFMAN. AUTOMATIC VENDING MACHINE.

I APPLICATION FILED NOV. 30, 1908. 987,701. Patented Mar.28, 1911.

11 SHEETSSHEET 6.

WITNESSES I v INVENTORSZ Allorney-S'.

R. B. CRAIG & A. GOFFMAN.

AUTOMATIC VENDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. so, 1908.

Patented Mar. 28, 1911.

11 SHEETS-SHEET 7 A Ilornay a1 R. B. CRAIG 6;v A. GOPFMAN. AUTOMATIC VENDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV130, 1908.

987,701. Patented Mar.28,1911.

11 SHEETS-SHEET 8.

WITNESSES V 9 4 Y fi /"WW4 R. B. CRAIG & A. COFFMAN.

AUTOMATIC VENDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. so, 1908.

987,701. Patented Mar.28, 1911.

ll SHEETS-SHBET 9.

WITNESSES INVENTORS' a /W 05/MM% M4 1 0L! J I ornayy R. B. CRAIG & A. COFFMAN.

AUTOMATIC VENDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV 30. 1908.

987,701. Patented Mar.28, 1911.

11 SHEETS-SHEET 10.

WITNESSES INVENTORSI @wwwzw W R. B. CRAIG & A. OOFPMAN.

AUTOMATIC VENDING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED NOV. 30, 1908.

Patented Mar. 28,1911.

11 SHEETS-SHEET 11.

INVENTORS: flaw/4W UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT B. CRAIG AND ALBERT COFFKAN, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, ASSIGN OBS TO AUTOMATIC VENDING MACHINES COMPANY, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI ACOB- PORATION 0F TERRITORY OI! MEXICO.

AUTOMATIC VENDING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Iatent.

Patented Mar. 28, 1911.

Application filed Iovember 30, 1908. SBIiQI NO. 465,182.

To all whom it may comm Be it known that we, Rosana: B. CRAIG and chine, it is necessary to properly record the tirneof sale; one part 0 the present invention, therefore, consists in certain novel relations between the time-piece and time-recording means, as well as certain details in the construction of means for establishing such relations, and --in the construction of these elements, [)61'86.

It is also desirable in machines of this class to supply the insurance olicy or other paper commodity to be sold, rom a continuousweb of paper upon which the time of sale may be recorded and to have on the policy sold, in addition to the time record, certain other data necessary to express a contract or other information, which is com mon to all the articles sold; another feature of the invention therefore relates to means for supplying blanks from a continuous roll, upon which blanks are imprinted the portions of the matter common to all the sales with spaces to receive the identifying matter peculiar to the particular sale; also means for insuring the impression of the identifyand will operate with certainty during at least a predetermined period; another fealure of the invention, therefore, consists in providing operat-in motors for the recording and for the de ivering elements of the machine and in having the motors for the recorder whose service is measured by the lapse of time independent of the motor for actuating the delivery mechanism whose service is variable according 'to the patronage of =the 'machine the purchasin public. This portion of the invention f-urt er consists, in addition to the fieastures named, in

having the delivery motor actuated by the weight of the purchaser upon a platform.

It is of great importance, in a machine exposed forthe purpose-of inviting expenditure of money to insure reliability of action and reduce 'to the minimum the danger of failure to deliver that for which the coin is inserted; another feature of the invention, therefore, relates to a sim 1e and efiicient coin release device and 'loc in'g means com trolled thereby which enable the machine to resist operation even under the weight of a purchaser, yet to promptly release the mechanism by the impact of coin.

The novel featuresiof the invention will be fully described, in the order in which they are above referred to, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, in which:

Figure l is a view in elevationof the rlght-hand side of the machine; Fi 2 is a view elevation of the left-hand si e of the machlne; Fig. 3 1s a front elevation; Fig. 4 .18 a rear elevation; Fig. 5 is a top view; Fig.

6 is a bottom view; Figs. 7 and 8 are respectively a front view and a plan view of the automatically reversing feed mechanism for the inking ribbon of the printing device; Fig. 9 is a detail view of the escapement off the time-recording mechanism, released at a revolution; Fig. 12 is a detail view of the escapement of a motor-driven gear wheel that actuates a second series of recording wheels utilized to date the article sold, which escapement is under the control of the time recording means; Figs. 13 and 14: are detail views showing the detent and advancing which printing wheels in 95 tion to spring 7*.

means for the second and third wheelsv in the dating series; Fig. 15 is a detail'view of the printing platen and the means for imparting a double impulse thereto at each operation of the machine; Fig. 16 is a detail view of the time mechanism; Fig. 17 is a detail view of the inertia wheel employed in each of the sprin motors, and its resilient connection with the shaft through which it loads the driving spring to prevent shock on and being a constant load, it is possible to obtain accurate results with very simple and cheap construction of time mechanism. To accomplish these ends, the timepiece 1 carries loosely upon its minute arbor 2 a wheel 3 having driving connection with said arbor through a short spring 4. Wheel 3-is provided with ratchet teeth that are twelve in number and therefore have the value of five minutes each. Supported by wheel 3 is a gravitating or spring-assisted drop bar 5, which is lowered a distance of one tooth every five minutes, and when so lowered, is in position to slide off the tooth and at the same time is free to move laterally in its guide 6 so that it may drop and release the escapement of the recording mechanism, and permit the latter, as hereinafter described, to advance a distance corresponding to five minutes. The guide 6 contains a pivoted check 7 that normally engages the thicker portion of the bar 5 and prevents the latter moving sidewise out of engagement with the wheel 3. But when wheel 3 has rotated under the advancement of the clock mechanism, a distance sufiicient to bring the recess 5 opposite the chock 7 the sidewise movement of the bar 5 necessary to release the bar is permitted. When bar 5 has performed its function by dropping, and is returned upward by-a force to be described, check 7 is engaged by the lower shoulder of the recess 5 and is swung upon its pivot 7 in opposi- This permits the bar 5 to be deflected sidewise by its beveled end 5" in riding over the next tooth of the wheel 3. (See Fig. 16.) As shown in Fig. 4, bar 5 is fulcrumed at 8 and has a crank arm 9 connected by a spring 10 with a fixed .point 11.

This causes the bar to swing to the left as soon as its engaging notch passes the next tooth upon the wheel 3, and as soon as this bar resumes its normal position, which is that shown in Fig. 16, chock 7 swings back to its limiting posit-ion under the influence l of its spring 7. As will be seen from Figs. 4 and 5, the fulcrum 8 is the means for connecting the bar 5 to the escapement lever 12, so that when bar 5 drops, itdepresses said lever 12. The downward tendency of bar 5 is assisted by the spring 10, so that in addition to its weight, and that of the lever 12, the rotation of the wheel 3 is influenced by said spring 10. In order that the time-piece may continue under the influence of driving energy during the interval when the bar is down, or released from the wheel 8, a dog 3 pivoted at 3 -on a fixed part and engaging a ratchet wheel 3 on the wheel 3, prevents retrograde of the wheel 3, and inasmuch as the tension on the spring 4.is commensurate with the load imposed by the bar 5, it is obvious that the driving energy upon the arbor 2 in the interim when bar 5 is disengaged, will be substantially equal to the driving energy when the'bar is in engagement.

Time recorder escapement.By referring to Figs. 1, 5 and 9, it will be seen that the escapement lever 12 is pivoted at 13 and car-' ries a stop 14 normally in the path of segmental stops 15 of which there are twelve arranged around the face of the escapement wheel 16 carried by the minutes wheel 17 of the time recording mechanism. Said time recording mechanism, as will be hereinafter described, has its first wheel together with the escapement wheel 16, fixed against'rotation upona shaft 18 which is subjected to constant driving force, as will also be described. Wheel 16 is further provided with intermediate deflecting cams 19, which, as soon as the stop 14 is depressed from the path of a segmental stop 15, engage said stop- 14 and throw it up into the path of the next segmental stop 15. The cams 19 thus become the means for returning lever 12 to its normal position, and in performing this function, they also restore the drop bar 5 to its upper position.

Recording mechanism.-As will be seen upon reference to Figs. 3 and 5, the record: ing mechanism is divided into two sections, one of which serves as a time recording means and the other'as a date-recording means; that is to say, one'se'ction records divisions of twenty-four hours,'whilethe other section records divisions of a year. As will hereinafter appear, these two recording means are preferably, though not necessarily, provided with independent driving motors. It will also appear hereinafter that notwithstanding their independent drive, these two sections of recording means are dependent in action; that is to say, not only are the successive wheels of the time recordin means driven scriatim, so as to shift every ve-minutes and thus be in condition' 'to record within five minutes of the exact time of any ,sale, but the last wheel of the time series,

after having completed a revolution corre-. sponding to twenty-four hours, releases a detent that permits a movement of one step in the dating series so as to change the day.

Time recorder.As will be seen from Fi 3 and 5, the time recorder comprises t e minutes wheel17, the hours wheel 20 and the meridian wheel 21. As has already been tendency to rotate,but is normally restrained wheel" to indicate within five qrninutes the exact minute of sale; but it is preferred to commence the series at a point other than the exact meridian, which would necessitate the use of an extra wheel to distinguish be-- tween 12 oclock noon and 12 oclock midnight; thus the series commences at .03 minutes and runs thence-.08, .13, .18,-etc. As will be seen from Figs. 9 and 10, the minutes wheel carries on its face opposite the escapement a projection'28 (shown in dotted lines in Fig. 9 and shown separated from the wheel that carries it in Fig. 10)", located at such radial distance from the center of the wheel as will cause it to engage the horn 29 on a detent 30 once in each revolution of the minutes wheel 17 and swing said detent- 30 upon its fulcrum 31in order to remove its end 32 from notch 33 of thehours wheel 20 and rendersaid hours wheel free to rotate. Continuing in its travel, projection 28, before it drops detent 30, strikes the operatingarm 34, of bell crank lever 35 fulcrumed at 36 and carrying a lifting do 37 pivoted at 38 to the bell crank lever, an adapted to engagein the peripheral notches of the wheel 20. \Wheel 17, in thus engaging arm 34, through the medium of projection 28, imparts rotation to the wheel 20. .This takes place when the wheel 17 completes the last step. of its complete revolution, or when it moves from a position in which it presents .58 minutes at the printing point to the position in which .it presents .03 minutes at the printing point, and in doing this, it effects one step in the revolution of wheel 20 and brings the next hours designation ofthe last-.

named wheel into the printin osition. On that face of the wheel 20 remo e rom the wheel 17 is a projection 39 (shown in dotted lines in Fig. 10 and 'in section inFig. 11), which acts in all respects similarly to the projection 28 in establishing driving connection between the hours wheel 20 and the meridian wheel 21, that is to say, engages beneath a horn 29 on a detent 30, fulcrumed at 31 and having an engaging end 32*, and after lifting said detent, said projection 39 engages the bell crank'lever 35.",v

which carries the lifting dog 37 and thereby imparts one step in the revolution of the wheel 21. The periphery of wheel 21 may.

contain any suitable number of printing surfaces, but these are provided with the characters A. and P. M.,.for designating the meridian ofi the hour printed by the hours wheel. These meridian designations "are alternately arranged, so that each time the hours wheel completes a revolution equal to twelve hours, the meridian will be changed from A. M to P. M., ,or' vice versa. As already stated, five-minute intervals are so selected. that ever coincide with noon or midnight, and thus it is unnecessary to have an additional designation for this purpose. To return the detents 30, 30, and the lifting dogs 37, 37, to normal positions, depressing sprin 40 are provided. Those springs 40 whic act upon the lifting the latter at pom-ts beyond their fulcrums, and thus serving the double purpose of throwing the dogs into engagement with the wheels and depressing the-bell, crank levers 35. To prevent movement of the wheels. 20 and 21 beyond a distance of one step, the levers 35, 35 are provided with arresting;- stops ll, 41. k

Dating means.The datevis expressed, not by months and days ,of' the month, but by the ordinal numbers 01: the days in the year; thus number 1 associated with the word Year previously printed upon the blank,

will indicate that the policy was sold on the first day of the year, or January 1st; while the number 60 would indicate the first day of March in a common year. or the 29th day of February in a leap year. It is thus neces sary to have but three wheels to indicate the (lay of the year, each of which carries the nine digits together with the zero, so that by proper composition of the three wheels, any day from 1 to 365 or 366 may be ex pressed. I

As will be seen from Figs. 3 and 5, the datiiig' means comprises a units wheel 42, having a toothed driving pinion 42, a tens wheel 43, and a hundreds wheel 44:. Wheel 42" is driven by pinion 45 0f the spring "drum 46, so that it is under constant tendency to rotate'with its rigidly connected units wheel 42 To restrain this rotation except at time designation willv dogs, are connected with.

proper intervals, wheel'42 is provided with detent and the arm 34 of bell crank lea detent 47 (Fig. 12), pivoted at 4:8, engaging, successively, pins 49 arranged upon the face of the wheel 42, so as to prevent rotation of the latter from the influence of the spring drum i6; also a cam face -.that is in the path of a series of pins 51 (shown in dotted lines in Fig. 11 and in sect-ion in Fig. 12) on the opposed face of the last wheel 21 of the time recorder; also an intermediate arresting stop 52 which rises in the path of the pins &9 each time the detent 47 is raised by a pin 51, and prevents wheel e2 with its connected units wheel d2 from rotating more than a single step. Cam 50 and intermediate stops are in different planes, the former being in the plane of the pins 51 carried by meridian wheel 21, while the latter being in the same plane as the normal stop of detent 457, which is in thepath of the pin 49 on the wheel 42. Thus the rotation of wheel 21, displaces stop &7 from a 'pin 49, and wheel 42 rotates until pin 49 strikes the intermediate step 52, whereupon lifting pin 51 passes beyond the cam50 and drops the stop 47 which permits 'pin 49 to escape from intermediate stop 52, passing through the recess above stop 52, and thus permitting completion of the step or the rotation of wheel 42 until the next pin 49 comes against the normal stop 4:7. Inasmuch as there are several designations of each meridian on the wheel 21, the displacing pins 51 are also several in number, there being one for each two meridians 011 the meridian wheel; thus whenever an A. M. and a P. M. designation have passed printing point, a pin 51 will permit movement of one step in the units wheel of the dating means. On that face of the dating means that is remote from the last wheel of the,

time recorder is a projection 53 (shown in dotted lines in Fig. 12 and in section in Fig. 13), which is in position to release or actuate dctent and shifting means applied to the tens wheel of the dating means in the same manner as described with reference to the second and third wheels of the time recorder; that is to say, projection 53 engages horn 29 of dctent 30' to release the tens wheel 43 and then engages the arm 34? of bell crank lever 35 which carries the lifting dog 37". and by these means moves the wheel 43 one step. As there is but one projection 53 on the wheel 42, this action takes place only at the completion of the revolution of the units wheel, or in the movement of the units wheel by which it brings the zero into the printing position so that in composition with the digit on the tens wheel, it prints 10, 20, etc. In like manner, the tens wheel 43 of the dating means is provided with a projection5 l (shown in dotted lines in Fig. 13 and in section in Fig. 14) which is adapted to engage the horn 29 of ver 35, and thus lift the dog 37 to move wheel 44 one step as the tens wheel completes its revolution. The escapement stop 47, as well as the stops 30 and 30 and the dogs N -and 37 are provided with depressing springs &0 identical in construction and effect with the springs 40 already described with reference to Fi s. 10 and 11.

Printing mechamsm.-It has been seen nal number of the day in the year) and the 8 time or fraction of the day by hours and five-minute intervals. This .composition of printing characters takes place vertically beneath the shaft 18 upon which the disks or wheels are mounted. In order to produce impressions from these printing characters, upon the pollcy or other paper article vended, a shaft 55 (Figs. 1,2, 3, 5, 6

' and 15) ada ted to be driven one revolution for each article to be vended, by any suitable means, such for instance as a pinion 56 driven as hereinafter described, is provided with a pair of disks 57, 58 (Figs. 3, 6 and- 15) having oppositely projecting pins 59 and 60, while a lug 61 carried by a lunger 62 guided in bearing 63 and vertical y movable upon a post 64, projectsint'o the ath of the pins 59, 60 so as to be depresse by the pins, successively, as shaft 55-rot-ates.

Plunger 62 is held normally upward by a spring 65 which surrounds the post 64 and is confined betweenthe flange 66 on the plunger 62 and a fixed bar 67 forming a part of the machine frame. Each time plunger 62 is depressed by a pin 59 or 60 and thereafter released by the pin passing-out of the path of the lug, spring 55 throws the plunger upward. A resilient stop 68 arrests the plunger slightly below the upper limit of sufficiently to permit the plunger to reach the limit of its stroke under its own inertia developed by the spring 65. The-plunger carries a cushioning block or platen 69 at its upper end, which works through an opening 70 in bed-plate 71 and forces the. web 72 of paper together with the interposed inking ribbon 73 against the printing surface made up of thecharacters on the re- "the plungers stroke, but this top yields 1'10 cording wheels. One of these wheels is shown in Fig. 15. By the resilient stop 68, the platen is kept a suflicient distance from the paper web to permit the latter to remain out of contact with the interposed ribbon, except at the instant of making the imprint. Inasmuch as there are two pins 59 and 60 which successively engage a lug 61 and depress the plunger during a' single revolution of shaft 55, two imprints are made during each revolution. This is of special advantage in the sale of articles; which involve two parts requiringidentical markings, such asv the date and'time to be placed upon each art of an insurance ,policy. Inasmuch as the imprintis effected y the action of spring 65, the strength of p which maybe predeterminedat will, it is tween the paper and the ribbon that the off, as will-he hereinafter explaine feed of the paper may take place during the ,printingoperation without interruption or without causing objectionable blur. V

fFeed'ing and delivering mechanism.-The paper 74 is fed from :1 1151175 suitably supported upon the machine and passes over the bed plate 71 until it receives its impressions, after which it passes beneath a confining plate 76 which revents the paper buckling when the finished polic Plate 71 is recessed as shown at 77 in Fig. 6, to adniit endless chains 78 having spurs 79 that puncture or extend through mar 'nal perforations in the paper in order to fe ed the latter at a predetermined rate and to a certain extent. Chains. 78 travel around idlers 80 on a shaft 81 and driving s rockets 82 on 'the shaft 83 which is geare I through pin+ ions 84 and 85 to the shaft 55. These chains are identical in construction, and by inter meshing with the-opposite margins of the paper insure a straight positive and limited movement to the paper. This is important in view of the fact that in selling an article in the nature of an insurance policy, the.

paper web is printed in advance to provide forms contalmng' the main portions of the contract with spaces in which to fill other data necessary to complete the contract. .By the described feeding means, forms wlll. always be presented in the proper relation to receive the distinguishing imprint and to be severed from the aper web on the proper lines of division. n the construction described, the travel imparted to the feed chains by the gears 84, 85, from the shaft 55 is accurately measured so as to advance a single blank with each revolution of the shaft 55. It has already been seen that one revolution of the shaft 55 produces two im-' prints upon the blank being fed through.

Secermg (lcoice.The paper web emerges at the front of the machine where it passes over the fixed blade 86, of a severing device comprisin in addition to said fixed blade, a knife 87, fulcrumedat 88 and having a 'foot 89 depending from its free end into the path of a pin 90' carried by a disk 91 rotatin with shaft 92. Knife 87 is constructed wit a bearing 93 that receives the endof a spring 94, supported at 95 and tensioned by its end 96 secured at 97. When disk 91 rotates in the direction of the arrow shown therein to is cut 7 .bring the pin 90 beneath the foot 89 and elewhich is also engaged by the spring 94 when the'knife is in normal position, whereby the knife is held elevated and the shearing de-.

vice is opened to permit the paper to feed 'through under the action of the chains 78.

The inertia of this knife, however, drives it past the normal position whenit executes its stroke, causing a re-action in spring 94 imnied-iately after which the pressure of the spring upon the heel of the knife restores the knife to normal position. Shaft '92 upon "which the disk 91 mounted, is driven through beveled pinion 99, from a beveled pinion 10.0 on the shaft 55. Inasmuch as beveled pinions 99 and 100 are of equal dimension, there is one stroke of the severing knife for each revolution of the shaft 55.

which, it has been seen, effects the printing and delivery of sufiicient paper to make up a complete article sold.

It will be seen that while the printing and delivery of the article to be sold (insurance policy or the like) is under the control of the purchaser and actuated by power furnished byhim, it is therefore necessarily a relatively slow operation. The printing stroke is develo ed from the power thus furnished indepen ently of said movement; and the action by which the printing wheels are set so as to express the time and date, are actuated by a spring motor of considerable power and quick action, and which operation is in turn controlled, not directly by a time mechanism which would be slow in ef fecting the releasing movement, but indirectly throu' h a sprlng or gravity actuated .dropbar w ich acts instantaneously each time the clock mechanism advances a redetermincd period, (viz. five minutes, in the machines/used forillustration'). The result ofthis is that while there may be overlapping of the printing stroke and' the shift in shi fting stroke may take place, orwhile a purchaser is at the machine, there can be no .material interference of the; functions owing.

to the substantially instantaneous action of those parts which are not subject to the will of the. operator.

Driving motorsE-It has already been-seen thatthe timing and dating portions ofthe' recording mechanism are driven by separate Inasmuch as the duty" irnspring motors. posed upon these motors is a known uantity and'commensurate merely with the apse of time these motors can readily be designed stroke, in point of time, or while the in advance, as it is conimensurate with the amount of business done by the machine; hence it is desirable to have these parts driven, not by'a motor of limited capacity, but by automatic means of indefinite capacity. For this purpose, the, pinion 56,

which drives the shaft 55, is in gear with a pinion 103, which receives an actuating hook 104 that is to be connected with a platform upon which the purchaser stands. Hook 104 engages the wheel 103 through pins 105 of which there are five provided on said wheel, so that wheel 103 moves one-fifth of a revolution each time a purchaser stands upon a platform and this, by proper calculation, imparts I one revolution to the shaft 55.

It is desirable to so load the spring motors which drive the date and time recording means as to prevent too sudden impulses in the driven mechanism. For this purpose, inertia wheels 106 and 107 are provided on shafts geared to said motors. The construction and effect of these inertia wheels will be understood upon reference to Fig. 17, which shows the wheel 107 mounted upon the shaft 108 that is connected through gear 109 with the gear 45 of the spring motor 46 (see Fig. 5). These inertia wheels are loose upon the shafts upon which they are mounted and are prevented from relative rotation in, one direction by intersecting pin 110 projecting from a hub 111 on the shaft to be retarded, and a pin 112 projecting from the inner face of the wheel. These pins are held in contact by a spring 113 extending from pin 110 to a post 114 on the wheel 107. When shaft 108 is rotated by its spring motor in the direction that drives pin 110 against pin 112 the entire inertia of wheel 107 must be overcome. But when the mechanism is brought to an abrupt stop by the escapement whichcontrols the first wheel of the series of recording wheels being driven, spring 113 yields to permit limited continued rotation in the wheel 107, and thus the work stored up in the wheelv is gradually overcome and shock upon the parts is avoided.

00in controZZecZ man e-Shaft 55 carries a cam disk 114 provided with a shoulder 115 v and a cotiperating stop 116. A lever 117 fulcrumed at 118, carries a pin 119 that normally lies between shoulder 115 and stop 116. An arm 120 on lever 117 is connected by spring 121 to an anchorage 122, that lever 11'? tends to swing in a direction to depress its pin 119. Stop 116'is recessed at 123 so that when pin 119 is depressed, .it may pass through the recess 123 and permit cam disk 114, and, therefore, the shaft 55, to rotate.

. through the medium of the spring 121. An arm 126 extending from the detent 124 on the opposite side of itsfulcrum 125 projects into the path of a coin in the coin chute 127 (see Fig. 1) When a purchaser stands-upon a de ressible platform and a portion pf his weig it is transmitted through the hook 104 to the wheel 103, the latter tends to rotate under the load, but is restrained by wheel 56 whose shaft 55 is locked by the pin 119 on the lever 117. But upon inserting the coin in the chute 127, and striking the arm 126, detent 124 is rocked upon its fulcrum 125 to release the lever 117 whose rear end then drops under the influence of spring 121 to bring pin 119 op osite recess 123 so that cam disk 114 and t e shaft-55 may rotate under the driving load imposed upon it. Rotation of shaft 55 feeds the paper, imparts a double impress to the printing impulse and act-uates the 'severin device, as described. In rotating, cam isk 114 adually raises pin 119 and through it the ever 117, in opposition to spring 121" until the 'forward end of said lever sses below the shoulder on detent 124 an permits the latter to return to engaging position. As pin 119 passes the salient point of the cam, it drops into the space between shoulder. 115 and stop 116, where it is held b the enga ement of the lever-with the etent 124 an the machine is then inoperative until another coin is inserted in the coin chute.

00in receptacZe.This feature of the invention ma be of any well known construc- 128 carried by a sta 129 which is fulcrumed at 130 and extends thence transversely to the plane of its fulcrum to provide a lever end 131, as shown in Figs."1,4 and 6. This lever end projects beneath lever 117, so that when said lever 117 is in normal position, barrier 128 is held out of-the path of the comin the chute 127; but when detent 124 is releasedby a coin and forward end of lever 117 rises, barrier 128 projects acrom the path of the coin and no further coin can be introduced until the machine has completed its operation and been restored to operative condition. Inasmuch as the introduction of acoin necessarily releases the lever 11,7 regardless of subsequent operation of the machine, it follows that if the machine should become in operative from any cause, only a single coin will be received.

Ribbon, feed mechmu'em.While any suitable form of inking device may be emplo ed for the printing characters, it is preferre to em 10y an inking ribbon to other with the fol owing instrumentalit or feeding the ribbon'step by step at eac impression of the machine and :for automatically reversing the direction of feed whenever the ribbon reaches the end of its travel in either direction. Referring to Figs. 7 and 8, ribbon-73 springs 138 and 80. A coupling rod 139 connects the pawls and spaces their free ends at such distance that when either pawl is in driving relation to its I ratchet, the other pawl is in idle relation to its ratchet, so that the active awl will drive and wind the ribbon upon t e bobbin being driven while the idling pawl will drag over its ratchet and perm1t the ribbon to unwind from the bobbin .controlled thereby.- The angle of a pawl relatively to the reciprocating bar 135 when the 'awlis in' driving position, is such that the t rustupon the pawl is approximately in the line of the slot through which the pawl is fitted to its pivot pin. From this circumstance, it result-s that when the ribbon is wholly unwound from the bobbin opposite to that upon which it is being wound, and itsend is anchored fast tothe empty bobbin, the resistance of the engaged ratchet causes the awl to rise u relatively to its in 136 an rock over an change its anguar osition relatively to the ratchet. Inasmuc as it is connected to the pawl that was idling up to this point, it shifts the angle of the latter, also, whereupon the previously acting pawl becomes the idling pawl and that which. was previously inactive now assumes driving "relation to its own ratchet and the winding of the ribbon is reversed. The bar 135 is reciprocated 'by mounting it upon a pair of parallel arms 140 projecting from rock-shafts 141, one'of which has an arm 142 connected by a pitman 143 with a crank disk 144 (Fi 2) upon the shaft 92,]

which, it has alrea y been seen, executes a revolution at each operation of the machine.

' In this way, the ribbon is fed one step at each operation of the machine.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a time recording mechanism, the

combination of a character element carryin characters expressive of time, a driving clement normally tending to move said element of said restraining member but periodically releasingsaid restraining memher, and receiving its own driving power "through the force which itrestrains.

2'. In a time recording mechanism, the

combination of character elements carrying characters expressive of time, a driving ele ment normally tending to move saidch'aracter elements, a member 'engagmg with and restraining the character elements, a

timingelement; and a means carried by the restraining member and connected to the timing element, said means effecting the actuation of said timing element and the releasing movement of the restraining member. l

3. In a time recording mechanism, the combination of character elements carrying characters expressive of time, a motor normally' tending to move said character ele;

ments and atiming element normally restraining said character elements but releasing the same at predetermined intervals of time; said timing element being provided with a fixed member, a free member intermittently engaging therewith and through the medium of which it restrains the char- 4..ln a time recording mechanism, the

combination of a character element carrying charactersexpresswe of t1me, a driving element normally tending to move said character element, an escapement normally restraining the character element against movement, a tuning element, :a drop bar supported by and adapted to move the es-- cape'ment in the direction of release, a timing element adapted to withhold the drop bar and release the same at predetermined intervals, and said escapement beingconstru'oted to restore the connection between the drop bar and the timing element.

5. In. a time recording mechanism, the

combination of character elements carrying characters expressive of time, "a driving element normally tending to move .said character element and a .timing element norm'a-lly restraining said characterelement but releasing it lat predetermined intervals of time; said timing element being provided with a spring, through the medium of which it: restrains 5 the character element,- and thmugh which itis actuated by the load imposed upon it in resisting movement of the character element; said spring being connected between the point of release and the stiming' element, and means being provided for maintaining the tension of the spring during the interval of release.

6, The combination of the-character element, the escapemcnt controlling the character element, the drop bar adapted to move the escapement in the direction of release, and a timing element normally supporting the drop bar, but releasing the same at predetermined intervals; said escapement being constructed to positively move the drop bar in the direction opposite to the direction of release and thereby return said drop bar to position for engagement with the timing element.

7. The combination of a time piece, a toothed wheel rotated by said time piece, a connecting bar supported by said toothed wheel and normally tending to move as said toothed wheel rotates, and a recording means controlled by said bar, said recording means adapted to effect the replacing of the bar through its operation.

8. The combination of a time piece having a toothed wheel, a drop bar engaging with and supported upon said toothed wheel.

but released therefrom at predetermined intervals, and a recording mechanism controlled by said drop bar, said recording means etl'eeting to-lift the bar to position on said toothed wheel through the operation of said recording means.

9. The combination of the time piece having a toothed wheel, a drop bar supported by said toothed .wheel, the guide through which said drop bar works, and the recording means controlled by said drop bar; said drop bar and guide being constructed to permit lateral relative movement between them when the drop bar reaches the point of release from the toothed wheel.

10. The combination of the time piece having a toothed wheel, a drop bar supported by said toothed wheel, the guide through which said drop bar works, and the recording means controlled by said drop bar; said drop bar and guide being constructed to permit lateral relative movement between them when the drop bar reaches the point of release from the toothed wheel; and said guide being provided with a yielding wall that also permits lateral relative movement between the drop bar and its guide as the drop bar moves into engage ment with a succeeding tooth of the wheel.

11. The combination of the time piece having a toothed wheel, a drop bar supported by said toothed wheel, the guide through which-said drop bar works, and the record ing means controlled by said drop bar; said drop bar and guide being constructed-to permit lateral relative movement between them when the drop bar reaches the point of release from the toothed wheel; and said guide being provided with a yielding wall that also permits lateral relative movement between the drop bar and its guide as the drop bar moves into engagement with a succeeding tooth of the wheel; said yielding wall being provided by a pivoted chock,

normally assuming a position to confine the drop bar laterally, but swinging upward by the engagement of the drop bar when the latter returns from'its releasing movement.

12. In a recording apparatus, the combination of a character wheel, an escapement restraining the character wheel, means controlling the escape'ment, and a motor for the character wheel normally tending to rotate said wheel; said motor being provided with an inertia body normally opposing movement to be transmitted from the motor to the character wheel.

13. In a recording apparatus, the combination of a character wheel, an escapement restraining the character wheel, means con trolling the escapement, and a motor for the character wheel normally tending to rotate said wheel; said motor being provided with an inertiabody normally opposing movement to be,transmitted from the motor to the character wheel, through the medium of rigid abutments, but having resilient connection through which the inertia wheel is restrained from rotation.

14. In a recording mechanism, the combination of a character element provided with printing characters expressive of time, printing means adapted to make an im ression from said timing characters, and independent motors for the character element and printing means; the motor for driving the character element being constructed to store power and the motor for operating the printing means being actuated manually by the operator.

15. In a recording mechanism, the combination of a character element provided with printing characters expressive of time, printing means adapted to make an impression from said timing characters, and independent motors for the character element and printing means; the motor for driving the character element being constructed to store power and the motor for operating the printing means being actuated'at the will of the operator; said character element motor having a suitable timing mechanism which permits it to operate at predetermined intervals.

16. In a time recording apparatus, the combination of a datin mechanism, a time recording mechanism. independent motors for the dating and time recording mechanisms, means through which the time recording mechanism controls the dating mechanism, a timing element, and a meansfor actuating the timing' element and controlling the time recording mechanism.

17. In a time recording apparatus, the combination of dating mechanism, time recording mechanism, independent motors for the said mechanisms, a printing mechanism, a motor adapted to be actuated by an operator for actuating the printing mechanism, a timing element, and a means for actuating the timing element and controlling the time recording mechanism.

18. In recording mechanism, comprising a plurality of rotary disks having characters adapted to collectively indicate, means whereby one rotary member another consistingof a stop arresting the movement of the member to be controlled, a lever having a lifting dog for engaging and moving the member to be controlled, and a projection on the member from which the control is exercised adapted to remove the stop and engage with and trip said lever to raise the lifting dog.

1!). In automatic vendingmachines having printing and delivery mechanism, means for actuating said printlng and delivery mechanism, adapted to be operated by a purchaser, means for shifting the printing members to express different times of sale, a spring motor adapted to impart substantially instantaneous adjusting movement to the printing members, a time mechanism, andmeans having its own actuating power adapted to be released by the time mechanism and adapted in turn to release the motor of the printing members.

20. In a time recording mechanism, the

combination of character elements carrying I characters expressive of time, a driving element normally tending to move said character ele1nents,'a timing element normally restraining said character elements but adapted to release the same at predetermined intervals of time, printing mechanism cooperating with said character elements, paper feeding mechanism, and a severing device operable through said paper feeding mechanism.

21. In a time recording mechanism, the

combination of character elements carrying characters expressive'of time, a driving element normally tending to move said character elements, a timing element normally restraining said character elements but releasing the same at predetermined intervals of time, a printing mechanism, a motor actuated by the presence of an operator for actuating the printing mechanism, paperl controlster elements, a timing element normally restraining said character elements but releasing the same at predetermined intervals of time, a printing mechanism cooperating with said character elements, a motor, paper feed ing mechanism, and a severing device, said motor, paper feeding mechanism and sever ing device adapted to be actuated by the presence of an operator.

23. In a coin controlled vending machine having mechanism for recording the time of sale, the combination of means for actuating said mechanism, independent means normally restraining the recording actuating mechanism and permittingit actuation at predetermined intervals, and printing and delivery mechanism operable independently of the aforesaid means.

24. In a coin controlled vending machine havin mechanism for recording the time of sale, t e combination of means for actuating said mechanism, independent means normally restraining the recording actuating mechanism and permitting it actuation at predetermined intervals, and printin and delivery mechanism operable throng the weight of the purchaser.

25. In a coin controlled vending machine having mechanism for recording the time of sale, the combination of means for actuating said mechanism, a timing mechanism, a

connection between the recording and timing mechanisms adapted to control the operation of the former and effect the actuation of the latter, and independently operable printing and delivery mechanisms.

The foregoing specification signed at Kansas City, Missouri, this 21st day of September, 1908.

ROBERT B. CRAIG. I ALBERT GOFFMAN. In presence of two witnesses:

V. HUNDLEY, W. IRVING LAKE. 

